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Iran war

Diplomacy & politics

Talks, statements, sanctions, nuclear policy, and government decisions.

349 entries, newest first; showing 1–30. Show all updates

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Saturday, September 26, 20266 entries

  1. 8:45 PM in New York

    Bessent says Turkey, Oman and UAE are enforcing US push to isolate Iran

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsWashington, D.C., United States

    Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on X that envoys he sent abroad under Operation Economic Outcast were "delivering results": Turkey and Oman halted Mahan Air flights, the UAE stopped all Iranian airline flights, and top commercial banks in the UAE and Turkey stopped transacting with Iran. He thanked the UK, Turkey, Oman and the UAE.

    Why it matters Washington is widening pressure through third countries while Iran waits for a formal U.S. reply to a plan whose first conditions are ending the blockade and lifting oil sanctions.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, CBS News

  2. 5:40 PM in New York

    Oman urges restraint and offers to keep mediating on Hormuz navigation

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsUnited Nations, New York

    Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi told the U.N. General Assembly that all parties should pursue self-restraint and dialogue, and said Oman remains committed to safeguarding navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and is ready to mediate.

    Why it matters Ships avoiding Iran's restrictions have been hugging the Omani coast, making Muscat's role central to any arrangement that restores traffic.

    Source: CBS News

  3. 1:01 AM in Tehran, Sep 27

    Iran says it awaits an official US response on its Hormuz proposal

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsIran

    Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a Telegram statement that Iran had seen President Trump's public rejection of its seven-day Hormuz plan but was waiting for mediators to convey the definitive U.S. position before deciding its next step, adding that any reopening of the strait depends on Iran's conditions and "we will not back down from them."

    Why it matters Tehran is treating Trump's remarks as short of a formal answer, keeping the mediated channel alive while the U.S. blockade and Iran's restrictions on the strait stay in place.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera (2), Iran International, Al Jazeera (3), Al Jazeera (4), CNN

  4. 12:32 PM in New York

    Saudi foreign minister demands Hormuz return to pre-war conditions with no fees

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsUnited Nations, New York

    Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan told the U.N. General Assembly that attempts to block regional waterways threaten global energy security and demanded that conditions in the Strait of Hormuz return to those before Feb. 28, without fees or taxes on shipping.

    Why it matters Riyadh is publicly rejecting any arrangement that would let Iran charge for passage, a constraint on the terms Washington and Tehran are discussing.

    Sources: CBS News, Al Jazeera

  5. 10:16 AM in New York

    Trump says he is rejecting Iran's seven-day Hormuz plan

    ConfirmedDiplomacy & politicsWhite House, Washington

    President Trump told reporters as he left the White House that he was rejecting Iran's offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days and restart talks, saying the U.S. has total control of the strait and that 29 ships came out overnight.

    Why it matters The rejection follows a Wall Street Journal report that Trump expects to resume bombing after the November midterms, leaving the blockade in place and the path to reopening Hormuz uncertain.

    Sources: CBS News, CBS News (2), Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera (2), Al Jazeera (3)

  6. 11:35 AM in Tehran

    Pezeshkian says Iran no longer trusts talks with Washington

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsIran

    Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told Al Jazeera that Iran no longer trusts talks with Washington because each round of negotiations was followed by attacks and sanctions, but said Qatar and Pakistan are relaying Tehran's messages and that negotiations rest on the June memorandum, on which "Americans must state their position."

    Why it matters The remarks, released hours before Trump rejected Iran's seven-day plan, show Tehran keeping the Qatari and Pakistani channel open while tying any deal to the June memorandum.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera (2), Al Jazeera (3)

Friday, September 25, 20263 entries

  1. 9:26 PM in New York

    Pezeshkian says Iran would admit UN nuclear inspectors under a peace deal

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsNew York

    Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told CBS News that Iran would allow International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors into the country as part of a potential long-term ceasefire deal, saying the terms of access could be agreed within the negotiations.

    Why it matters Inspector access is a core U.S. demand, and a public commitment gives Washington a concrete point to test, though inspectors were denied full access before the war.

    Source: CBS News

  2. 1:32 PM in New York

    US official calls Iran talks 'positive and constructive' but says Washington is in no rush

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsWashington

    A U.S. official said discussions with Iran after Tehran's seven-day proposal were positive and constructive, but that Washington was in no rush because nearly 40 million barrels of oil had transited the Strait of Hormuz under U.S. escort in the previous 48 hours.

    Why it matters Washington is signaling that escorted flows reduce its need to accept Iran's sequencing, lowering the odds of a quick deal on Tehran's terms.

    Source: CBS News

  3. 11:45 AM in New York

    US ambassador says Trump told Xi any Chinese help to Iran is 'totally unacceptable'

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsUnited States

    U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue told CNBC that President Trump reiterated to Xi Jinping that any direct or indirect Chinese help to Iran, including intelligence, parts or military equipment, is unacceptable. Perdue said Washington believes China has given indirect support to keeping Hormuz closed but has no direct evidence.

    Why it matters China is Iran's largest trade partner and has refused to help enforce U.S. sanctions, so its stance shapes how long Tehran can hold out on Hormuz.

    Sources: CBS News, Al Jazeera

Thursday, September 24, 20265 entries

  1. 11:42 PM in New York

    Araghchi says Iran sent the US a seven-day plan to reopen Hormuz and restart talks

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsNew York, United States

    Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told reporters in New York that Iran had sent Washington, through mediators, a seven-day plan: if the U.S. ends its naval blockade, lifts sanctions on Iranian oil, releases about $12 billion in frozen assets and accepts a halt to fighting that includes Lebanon, Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz on day six and start talks on a final deal on day seven.

    Why it matters The terms largely mirror June's 14-point memorandum, which collapsed within weeks, so the test is whether Washington accepts lifting the blockade before the strait fully reopens.

    Sources: CBS News, Al Jazeera, i24NEWS, Al Jazeera (2), Al Jazeera (3), CBS News (AP)

  2. 5:30 PM in New York

    Pezeshkian says Iran wants the US back in the June memorandum before the midterms

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsNew York, United States

    Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told journalists in New York, "We wish Americans to return to the MoU before the midterms," referring to the June memorandum whose ceasefire collapsed within weeks. He also said Iran was open to inspections of its nuclear facilities and denied that Tehran seeks to assassinate Trump or his family.

    Why it matters Trump has said Iran will deal only after the November election, so Tehran is signalling it wants the timeline pulled forward while pressing the same terms.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, CBS News

  3. 2:04 PM in New York

    Dozens of delegations walk out as Netanyahu addresses the UN General Assembly

    ConfirmedDiplomacy & politicsUnited Nations headquarters, New York

    Dozens of delegations walked out as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the General Assembly podium, and he called those leaving "moral cowards." He said Israel and the United States had crushed Iran's army, navy, air force and nuclear facilities, thanked President Trump and said Israel would continue to defend itself.

    Why it matters The walkout showed Israel's isolation at the assembly in the same week Washington and Tehran were testing terms to reopen Hormuz, and Iranian diplomats used it to press their case against the war.

    Sources: RTÉ News, CBS News, Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera (2), The Irish Times

  4. 1:43 PM in New York

    Xi tells Trump China backs a US-Iran return to the Islamabad memorandum

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsWhite House, Washington

    At a White House meeting with President Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping backed a U.S. and Iranian return to the June Islamabad memorandum and urged negotiations toward a comprehensive agreement, including on the nuclear issue, according to Xinhua. A White House fact sheet said Trump urged Xi to increase production of refined petroleum products to stabilize global supply; no breakthrough on the war was announced.

    Why it matters China is Iran's largest trading partner; Pezeshkian publicly thanked Xi the next day, while the U.S. ambassador to China said Trump told Xi that any Chinese help to Iran was unacceptable.

    Sources: A News, Al Jazeera, CBS News, Al Jazeera (2)

  5. 1:05 PM in New York

    Eighty countries at UN demand Iran reopen Hormuz with no transit fees

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsUnited Nations headquarters, New York

    Bahrain's foreign minister, Abdullatif Al Zayani, read a joint statement on behalf of 80 UN member states condemning Iran's attacks on neighbouring countries and Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, and calling for the urgent and complete reopening of the Strait of Hormuz without transit fees, conditions or other burdens.

    Why it matters The no-fees language rejects any Iranian toll regime for the strait, a sticking point in any settlement, as Tehran and Oman press their own arrangement for managing passage.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, ANI

Wednesday, September 23, 20265 entries

  1. 10:55 AM in New York

    Rubio says an Iran deal will take hard work and military options remain

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsNew York, United States

    Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters in New York that any deal with Iran would involve hard work over a period of time, that President Trump "has a number of options available, including military options," and that the U.S. will "continue to defend and hold the Strait of Hormuz open." He later said the U.S. would honour its defence agreement with Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks.

    Why it matters Rubio's caution, a day after Trump hailed a "very good" meeting with Iran's delegation, signalled that Washington was not expecting a quick settlement and was keeping force on the table.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera (2), CNN

  2. 6:30 PM in Dubai

    UAE central bank bars Bank Melli branches from handling transactions with Iran

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsAbu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    The UAE central bank prohibited branches of Iran's Bank Melli in the Emirates from executing financial transactions to or from Iran, including trade finance and transfers, citing non-compliance with laws, regulations and supervisory decisions, the state news agency WAM reported.

    Why it matters The UAE hosts the Dubai money channels targeted by Treasury's Operation Economic Outcast, and Treasury Secretary Bessent later said top UAE banks had stopped transacting with Iran.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, CBS News

  3. 10:28 AM in New York

    Pezeshkian tells UN General Assembly Israel holds nuclear weapons while Iran faces inspections

    ConfirmedDiplomacy & politicsUnited Nations Headquarters, New York

    Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told the UN General Assembly that "the nuclear weapon is in Israel, but the inspectors are in Iran," said Iran seeks no nuclear weapon but will accept no limits on peaceful nuclear technology, and held up photos of children killed in the Feb. 28 strike on a school in Minab. A U.S. delegate walked out during the speech, a day after Trump threatened to "annihilate" Iran.

    Why it matters Pezeshkian paired defiance with an offer of dialogue and negotiations "without accepting the language of force," but his refusal of any limits on enrichment keeps the core nuclear dispute in place as talks on reopening Hormuz continue.

    Sources: CNBC, Bloomberg, Jerusalem Post, UN News, Jerusalem Post (2), Military.com, Al Jazeera

  4. 5:39 PM in Tehran

    Iran's security chief says Hormuz stays shut until US meets seven written conditions

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsTehran, Iran

    Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, told state television that Iran would neither reopen the Strait of Hormuz nor negotiate until Washington meets seven written conditions passed through Pakistan and Qatar, and said the U.S. had been given a five-day deadline. He warned neighbours that if they bar Iranian aircraft, "their own airports will not be able to have flights either."

    Why it matters The deadline framed Iran's terms for the New York contacts, and the airport warning raised the stakes for Gulf and Iraqi states deciding whether to enforce the U.S. aviation ban; the council walked the threat back on Sept. 26.

    Sources: Tasnim News Agency, Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera (2), IranWire

  5. 5:10 AM in New York

    Pezeshkian reaches New York as a Khamenei adviser gives cover for US talks

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsNew York, United States

    Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in New York for the UN General Assembly despite hardline calls to cancel the trip. Yahya Rahim Safavi, military adviser to the supreme leader and a former IRGC chief, said that if the leader had left the government open to negotiations, "that is a very important act of prudence."

    Why it matters Backing from a senior security figure gave the New York contacts political cover at home, though Safavi insisted Iran's positions on Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb be respected and the Kayhan newspaper urged Pezeshkian to use the UN as "a courtroom for American crimes."

    Sources: The National, Al Jazeera

Tuesday, September 22, 20269 entries

  1. 4:14 PM in New York

    Israel denounces Macron's UN remark that Hamas was never active in the West Bank

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsUnited Nations, New York, United States

    French President Emmanuel Macron told the UN General Assembly that "Hamas has never been active in the West Bank," drawing a response from Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich that Macron was "lying" and a statement from Netanyahu's office calling it a "grotesque absurdity." A French source said Macron meant that Hamas has never governed the territory.

    Why it matters The row widened the rift between Israel and France at a General Assembly where Macron also called reopening the Strait of Hormuz a priority.

    Sources: The Times of Israel, The Times of Israel live blog, RTE News, The Jerusalem Post

  2. 3:57 PM in New York

    Trump tells Gulf Cooperation Council there is 'a lot of momentum' on an Iran deal

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsUnited Nations, New York, United States

    Meeting leaders and officials from Gulf Cooperation Council and other regional states at the UN, Trump said Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had a "very productive" meeting with mediators and "I think there's a lot of momentum for them to make a deal." He also said the US "may have to blow up" Iran's suspected Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site if it sees activity there.

    Why it matters Trump paired deal optimism with a fresh threat against a nuclear site in front of Gulf states that host US forces and want guarantees for their energy routes.

    Sources: Times of Israel, The Times of Israel live blog, CNN live updates, Iran International

  3. 3:31 PM in New York

    Iran says Araghchi gave Witkoff its terms for reopening Hormuz at the UN

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsUnited Nations, New York, United States

    Iranian state broadcaster IRIB said Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met US envoy Steve Witkoff at the US side's request and restated Iran's conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz: immediately lifting the naval blockade, immediately releasing frozen Iranian assets and ending the war on all "resistance" fronts, including Lebanon. Witkoff later said the talks were held through mediators who shuttled between the delegations.

    Why it matters The terms put lifting the blockade and releasing assets ahead of any reopening and fold Lebanon into a deal, the sequencing Washington would have to accept.

    Sources: Reuters via US News, Times of Israel, Khaleej Times live updates, CNN live updates, Al Jazeera live blog, The Times of Israel live blog, Al Jazeera

  4. 9:38 PM in Tehran

    Baghdad and Muscat airports to stop accepting Iranian flights as US sanctions loom

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsTehran, Iran; Baghdad, Iraq; Muscat, Oman

    An Iranian civil aviation spokesman told Tasnim that Baghdad and Muscat airports "will no longer accept Iranian flights" from midnight and that Iran was working to divert Baghdad flights to Najaf; two sources told Reuters Iraq had ordered its civil aviation authority to suspend Iranian flights to Baghdad from Wednesday. Other routes, including Istanbul, were operating normally; Iraqi government sources had told AFP on Monday that Baghdad would comply with the US ban.

    Why it matters It was the first concrete enforcement by Iran's neighbors of Washington's aviation squeeze; Iran's plan to divert Baghdad flights to Najaf, the main pilgrim route, is the next test.

    Sources: Khaleej Times live updates (AFP, Reuters), Times of Israel, Khaleej Times live updates (AFP), The Times of Israel live blog, Al Jazeera live blog

  5. 2:05 PM in New York

    Trump says US envoys held a 'very good' three-hour meeting with Iranians at the UN

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsUnited Nations, New York, United States

    Trump told reporters that members of his administration met the Iranian delegation for about three hours, calling it "a very good meeting, a very productive meeting" with another "scheduled in the very near future"; earlier, after meeting UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, he said Iran had been talking to the US "even today" and "a settlement is going to be reached."

    Why it matters The disclosure came hours after Trump threatened at the General Assembly to "annihilate" Iran, and US envoy Steve Witkoff later described the talks as conducted through mediators, leaving their format disputed.

    Sources: Khaleej Times live updates (AFP), CNN live updates, CNN live updates (2)

  6. 12:59 PM in New York

    Qatar's prime minister meets Araghchi in New York on de-escalation

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsUnited Nations, New York, United States

    Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to discuss de-escalation efforts and conditions for dialogue, Qatar News Agency reported.

    Why it matters Qatar is one of the mediators relaying proposals between Washington and Tehran, and the meeting came the same day US and Iranian envoys held their first reported talks since June.

    Sources: Khaleej Times live updates (QNA), Iran International

  7. 10:28 AM in New York

    Trump tells UN he must choose between an Iran deal and 'annihilating' the Islamic Republic

    ConfirmedDiplomacy & politicsUnited Nations, New York, United States

    In his General Assembly address, Trump said he had "a big decision to make": a deal letting Iran rebuild, or to "annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly," and predicted a deal "right after the election" on Nov. 3. Iran's army general staff and the IRGC's Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters called the threats "domestic propaganda."

    Why it matters The speech tied any settlement to the US midterms while keeping renewed strikes explicitly on the table, hours before US and Iranian envoys held talks in New York.

    Sources: CNN live updates, CNN live updates (2), ABC News, Al Jazeera live blog

  8. 7:24 AM in New York

    Rubio says US open to meeting Iranian officials at UN General Assembly

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsNew York, United States

    Secretary of State Marco Rubio told NBC's Today show the US is "certainly open" to speaking with Iranian officials at the UN General Assembly but "I don't think anything is scheduled at this point," adding that the goal is that Iran "can never have a nuclear weapon."

    Why it matters Hours later Trump said US envoys had met the Iranian delegation, the first reported contact since Vice President JD Vance met Iranian officials in Switzerland in June.

    Sources: Khaleej Times live updates, CNN live updates

  9. 1:22 PM in Tehran

    Iran's 'Janfada' mobilization campaign plans training for boys under 15

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsTehran, Iran

    Sasan Zare, spokesperson for Iran's Janfada (self-sacrifice) campaign, told the ILNA news agency that boys under 15 would receive "special training appropriate for younger ages," with those 15 and older already training; girls may enlist only from 18. He said the campaign's slogan is "We have one life, and we give it for Iran."

    Why it matters International humanitarian law bars recruiting children under 15, and the plan is part of a mass mobilization drive Tehran is running while the war remains unresolved.

    Sources: Jerusalem Post, The Jerusalem Post

Monday, September 21, 20262 entries

  1. 9:03 AM in Tehran, Sep 22

    Pezeshkian departs Tehran for UN General Assembly amid ongoing war

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsTehran, Iran

    President Masoud Pezeshkian left Tehran on Tuesday morning for the UN General Assembly, telling state television Iran would "firmly defend our positions in international forums" and convey "Iran's plight" to the world. He was set to be the highest-ranking Iranian official to enter the US since the war began.

    Why it matters His trip put Iran's president in New York while US and Iranian envoys tested terms for a Hormuz reopening, though a senior official said he would not meet Trump.

    Sources: Channels Television, ANI News, Khaleej Times live updates (AFP), Reuters (via BOE Report)

  2. 5:55 AM in Paris, Sep 22

    France drafting a UN Security Council resolution on Hormuz navigation, diplomat says

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsStrait of Hormuz

    France wants to work with the US and partners on a Security Council resolution guaranteeing freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and is ready to help secure Saudi energy infrastructure in Yanbu and along the East-West Pipeline in a "strictly defensive" role, a French diplomatic source told AFP. Russia and China vetoed a US-backed Hormuz draft in April.

    Why it matters A new text would test whether Moscow and Beijing still block Council action on Hormuz while Washington and Tehran bargain over reopening it.

    Source: Khaleej Times live updates (AFP)

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